Weekly Newsletter

Police Confirm Minister’s Brother Will Not Be Part Of Investigation Team

Assistant commissioner for the capital area police Theódór Kristjánsson – who is also the brother of Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir – will not be amongst the police officials taking part in the investigation of the ministry.

Apart from his commissioner position, DV reports, Theódór is also in charge of the Technical, Computer and Electronics Investigation Department for the Reykjavík area police. Capital area police commissioner Stefán Eiríksson has confirmed, though, that Théodór will not be taking part in investigations of the Interior Ministry.

Police have already begun their investigations, with all ministry employees compelled to grant the police access to their e-mail inboxes. An initial investigation was conducted by the Management Office of Government Offices within the ministry, although many ministry employees called for an independent investigation – a request which was summarily dismissed by the minister.

As reported, the State Prosecutor decided earlier this month to launch the criminal investigation at the behest of attorneys for Nigerian asylum seeker Tony Omos and the mother of his child, Evelyn Glory Joseph. These charges include breach of confidentiality, slander, and abuse of public office.

The leaked memo, which was issued last November with all evidence suggesting it came from the ministry, was given to select members of the press and contained a number of allegations about Tony and Evelyn which later proved untrue.

Stefán told reporters at the time, “My client was investigated, denied the charges against him, and within the documents it shows that the investigation was dropped.”

Since then, Hanna Birna has been evasive with reporters and lawyers alike, while implying in parliament that other parties – such as the police or the Red Cross – could have been responsible for the leak, even though all evidence points to her ministry.

The ministry has also decided to continue the practice of not responding to the press, as they have sent a statement to the press that they will not be answering any more questions about Tony Omos nor the charges against the minister and her ministry.

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